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A book suggesting the September 11 attacks were engineered by the U.S. government is raising hackles among the faithful because its publisher is an agency of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest of several Presbyterian denominations. The book has attracted volumes of criticism, boycott threats and attempted clarifications by various church officials. The book represents the latest conflict within a denomination that in June voted that local congregations could decide to ordain homosexual clergy and that the Trinity, described for centuries as "Father, Son and Holy Ghost," could also be called "Mother, Child and Womb." Yesterday the book, listed under...

For the first time in almost 30 years, missionary Scott Smith is being told he may have to find his own funding in order to keep working in the mission field. He and wife Melanie Smith have served the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as mission co-workers in South Asia since the mid 1970s * in Bangladesh, Nepal and now in India. Clearly the two are concerned, and say the focus on money will "hinder" their work. Sharing the same concerns are the Rev. Tim and Marta Carriker, a husband-and-wife team serving in Brazil. They, too, have about three decades of mission...

The Presbytery of Prospect Hill in Iowa voted Monday night to order that Russ Westbrook, the pastor of Riverside Presbyterian Church in Linn Grove, Iowa, go on immediate administrative leave and that a presbytery administrative commission assume control of the congregation. The presbytery was responding to a recommendation by the Riverside session to separate from the Presbyterian Church (USA) and a subsequent 74-0 vote by the congregation to endorse the session's recommendation. The two-hour meeting of the presbytery was called specifically to deal with the convening of an administrative commission. But the agenda was modified – unconstitutionally, Westbrook claims –...

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were orchestrated by the U.S. government, according to a book to be released later this month by Westminster John Knox Press—a division of the denominational publisher for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Christian Faith and the Truth Behind 9/11: A Call to Reflection and Action is the third book on the subject by David Ray Griffin, a professor emeritus of theology at Claremont School of Theology who is also a well-published and prominent process theologian. In his book, Griffin argues the Bush administration planned the events of September 11 so they could provide justification for...

But for some of the Christians who had made it out in this convoy, it was not just privations they wanted to talk about, but their ordeal at the hands of Hezbollah — a contrast to the Shiites, who make up a vast majority of the population in southern Lebanon and broadly support the militia. “Hezbollah came to Ain Ebel to shoot its rockets,” said Fayad Hanna Amar, a young Christian man, referring to his village. “They are shooting from between our houses.” “Please,’’ he added, “write that in your newspaper.” In past wars, Christian militias were close to Israelis,...

The anti-Israel divestment campaign among U.S. churches has been largely defeated. But in the midst of the terrorists' war on Israel, the Religious Left's hostility to Israel continues. Religious Left church officials have responded to the conflict between Israel and Hezballah with their usual lamentations over "the violence." But it is "the violence" by Israel that exclusively concerns them. Typical among them has been the reaction of United Church of Christ president John Thomas. "We watch with horror and outrage as Israel punishes an entire population for the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier in Gaza, and as belligerence escalates with...

What is the likelihood that the op-ed writer, or cartoonist, or university professor who rants about the evils of Zionism is really an old-fashioned Jew-hater? Much better than most of us thought, according to a study in the August 2006 issue of The Journal of Conflict Resolution. Goebbels was right. Repeat a lie often enough, and people will believe it. This seems to be true even in regard to Jews believing lies about themselves. For decades, so many of us heard pious protestations that strongly held views about Israel had nothing to do with attitudes towards us, that we started...

Dear President Thomas, We appreciate the clarity of your “Pastoral Letter to Palestinian Friends and Partners.” You have made the sides abundantly clear. On one side are Israel, the United States, the G8, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. All of these faulted the unprovoked murderous cross-border attacks and kidnappings by Hezbollah that have led to suffering of the citizens of both Israel and Lebanon. On the other side are Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, the UCC and John Thomas, who see things differently. We also understand why your remarks during this week of death and misery...

Top church leaders from some of the largest Christian denominations in the United States and in the world are pleading for an end to the violence in the Middle East, pressing U.S. President Bush to intervene and help lead the involved parties to peace and reconciliation. On Thursday, 19 high-level Christian leaders and church heads signed a letter to President George W. Bush calling for a diplomatic solution to the conflicts in Gaza and between Hezbollah and Israel. “Mr. President, while attention is rightly focused on the Hezbollah-Israel conflict, we write with growing concern for the situation in Gaza and...

The Christians United for Israel (CUFI) kickoff dinner that my colleague from American Congress for Truth Brigitte Gabriel and I attended courtesy of Maj. Gen Jim Hutchens (he brought the EGGED (Bus 19 wreckage to America), retired Army chaplain member of the CUFI board at the grand ballroom in the Washington Hilton on Tuesday night was a real rouser. What a ‘Night to Honor Israel! The beginning of this week’s CUFI Washington/Israel summit. There were more 3,400 charismatic Christians and Baptists, dancing in the aisles, cheering all the speakers, singing both the US National anthem and Hatikva in Hebrew with...

Early in 2006, pro-Palestinian activists around the world were downright giddy at the momentum behind their efforts to brand an apartheid state and “divest” accordingly. At the year’s midpoint, however, the political cause that had looked so vibrant is now on the ropes following the defeat dealt it by Presbyterians at the church’s bi-annual conference last month. Meeting in Birmingham, the 500+ voting members of the Protestant denomination overwhelmingly disavowed the previous assembly’s enthusiastic embrace of initiating “a process of phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel.” But while the Presbyterians’ ostensible about-face is a huge blow for...

The foot soldiers in some of America's greatest battles carried neither guns nor swords. Instead, armed with Bibles and faith in God's mercy, they prayed and marched and fought to end slavery, improve social welfare and establish civil rights. Members of those churches, some of which became known as mainline denominations, were society's vanguard, shaping the country's culture and refining debate. But those times are long past. Today, the opposite is occurring as secular culture defines mainline churches' dialogue on everything from social issues to politics and morality, tellingly shown this summer at the emotional and acrimonious national gatherings of...

Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem, a respected ecumenical partner of the churches that form the National Council of Churches, is led by Rev. Canon Naim Ateek (Anglican priest). With their statements, strong on justice for Palestinians, Sabeel has drawn the ire of my Jewish colleagues in the mainstream Jewish organizations in the US. As my Jewish colleagues would point out, I am always aware of the alternative narratives that are a part of this struggle. However, the following statement from Sabeel on the situation in Gaza is well done. It provides background, analysis of the situation on the...

A Presbyterian and an Episcopalian walk into a bar ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: July 18, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern By Jim Rutz -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com It's 95 degrees today – too hot to discuss anything serious – so I'm going to write about the Presbyterians and Episcopalians, who seem intent upon turning their sacred franchises into a comedy show. As you know, presbyopia is the visual malady that renders its victims unable to see what's right in front of their noses. Presbyterian comes from the same root word, presbys, meaning old, or perhaps in this case, over the hill. The...

Jewish and pro-Israel Christian groups in both Israel and the United States voiced a chorus of support for the Israel Defense Forces' actions yesterday, the second day of fighting on the northern border. "This was certainly an unprovoked attack and Israel has every right to go in and pound them," said Ray Sanders, executive director of Christian Friends of Israel. "It needs to be made very clear that what they [Hezbollah] have done is an act of injustice and Israel has every right to defend herself."

Robert Duncan, bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese of the Episcopal Church (USA), who has declared that the rifts in his own denomination may be "irreconcilable," will be one of the keynote speakers at the New Wineskins Convocation in Tulsa on July 19-22. The convocation is expected to draw hundreds of Presbyterians, including ministers and elders who have already aligned with the New Wineskins. They will consider steps the group may take in response to the actions of the 2006 General Assembly. At their first convocation last fall, the New Wineskins members, who had approved theological and moral imperatives, also approved...

The head of what used to be the main voice of ecumenical Christianity in America has made Fox News the target of his latest jeremiad. Bob Edgar, former Democratic congressman and former seminary president is now an ordained Methodist minister and general secretary of the National Council of Churches (NCC) -- but his religion is often politics by another means. Edgar warned a gathering of "moderate" Baptists last month against the challenges of "fear, fundamentalism, and Fox News." instead urging his faithful to "walk in the footsteps of Jesus." Edgar cited the supposed threat posed by Fox News while speaking...

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Forget about traditional morality—Christianity should focus on eradicating poverty, protecting the environment and ending the war in Iraq, according to the general secretary of the National Council of Churches, Dr. Bob Edgar. “Jesus never said one word about homosexuality, never said one word about civil marriage or abortion,” said Dr. Edgar to CBS News at a recent gathering of liberal Christian leaders in Washington. The gathering was the latest effort by the “religious left” to gain back some of the political power the group enjoyed during the 60’s and early 70’s. 30 years...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Presbyterian Church (USA) has fired its finance and accounting director after she allegedly admitted to embezzling $102,000 from the church's general operating fund. A release from the Presbyterian Church said Judy Golliher admitted to taking the money after being asked about several unexplained items. The release said Golliher was fired after she admitted to taking the money. The church notified the Commonwealth Attorney's Office about the situation. The church said Golliher will cooperate with the investigation and pay back the money. The 2.3-million member church has recently been focusing on reorganizing its mission program. In late...

At the turn of the century, a prominent Christian led a movement to transform American culture. He stood up for the weak and downtrodden. He pointed out the connection between Darwinism and the nastier parts of American life. And, for his trouble, he was labeled a “fanatic” and a “demagogue.” The “turn of the century” I’m referring to is the year 1900, and the Christian is William Jennings Bryan. Bryan, whom the Christian Science Monitor called “a forgotten hero,” is the subject of a new biography titled A Godly Hero. Its author, Georgetown professor Michael Kazin, wrote the book “to...